McCook Field in Dayton in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

McCook Field

Cradle of Aviation Innovation

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

1. McCook Field Marker

side A

Inscription. McCook Field
Cradle of Aviation Innovation Interest in the new field of aeronautics grew dramatically when the United States entered the World War I in 1917. The army chose Dayton as the site for a research-and-development program for military aviation because of the area’s transportation links to major cities and its engineering and testing facilities. McCook Field, north of downtown between Keowee Street and the Great Miami River, was charged with researching, developing, and testing military airplanes and accessories. For nearly a decade, many advancements in aviation occurred at McCook Field. They included new aircraft, controllable-pitch propellers, bulletproof gas tanks, free-fall parachutes, and night-observation cameras. In the 1920s, larger and more-powerful aircraft overwhelmed the small field, which featured a large sign to warn pilots: “This field is small. Use it all.” In 1927, aeronautical engineering was transferred to newly-created Wright Field, now a part of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

McCook Field
Cradle of Aviation Innovation
Ca. 1917 (pic)

(Ohio WWI logo)

Erected 2017 by City of

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Dayton and The Ohio History Connection. (Marker Number 27- 57.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list.

Location. 39° 46.451′ N, 84° 11.459′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in McCook Field. It is at the intersection of North Bend Blvd and East Helena Street, on the right when traveling south on North Bend Blvd. marker is along the Great Miami River Trail adjacent to Kettering Field. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 444 North Bend Blvd, Dayton OH 45404, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Miami Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

2. McCook Field Marker

side B

of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Testing, Testing, Testing (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named McCook Field (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Peace Plaza (approx. half a mile away); Neil Armstrong (approx. half a mile away); John Glenn (approx. half a mile away); Wright-Patterson AFB (approx. half a mile away); Inventing Flight: The Centennial Celebration (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named McCook Field (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

3. McCook Field Marker

full view

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

4. McCook Field Marker

Downtown Dayton skyline beyond the Great Miami River

1917

5. McCook Field Marker

picture on marker

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, April 17, 2018

6. McCook Field Marker

Ohio WW I logo

Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 979 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 18, 2018, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.